Crossroads and the Dominion of Four by C. Toni Graham

Author:C. Toni Graham [Graham, C. Toni]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781504391627
Publisher: Balboa Press
Published: 2018-11-16T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWELVE

Intentions Revealed

Returning to the safety of the castle was a relief. Their rooms had been cleaned, and fresh changes of clothes had been set out. Shayna collapsed on the large poster bed nearest the window. She wanted to sink into the stuffed feather mattress and sleep until she awoke in her own bed in the mortal realm. It was a thought she didn’t allow to linger, for fear of getting too nostalgic and forgetting her purpose. She pulled herself up and joined Seneca in getting changed for dinner.

“I’ve got something for you,” Seneca said. Her voice was uncharacteristically cheery. She was anxiously waiting for Shayna, and her excitement was out of character.

“Oh, do you?” Shayna said with suspicion.

“I think you’ll like it. Actually, I’m pretty sure you’re going to love it.” Seneca laughed.

“Okay, you’re scaring me now.”

“Ta-dah!” Seneca shouted. She smirked when she noticed Shayna had closed her eyes tightly.

“What is it? Just tell me! You’re freaking me out.” She was now positive she wasn’t going to like anything that caused Seneca to sound so upbeat.

“Open your eyes, and check it out for yourself.”

“Check what out? I dunno about that. I’m pretty sure I don’t want to see whatever it is you’re trying to show me.” Shayna shut her eyelids tighter.

“Oh, I think you’re gonna wanna see this—trust me,” Seneca said in a singsong voice.

Shayna shook her head, braced herself, and opened her eyes slowly. She batted her eyes several times to regain focus as she leaned forward. Seneca held an ornate mirror right at eye level. Shayna finally saw what the others had seen: the reflectoire was exquisite. She raised her fingers to it, and it warmed to a sapphire blue. As she lowered her hand, it faded to the previous hue.

“Thank you, Seneca. I thought it would be, you know—”

“Ugly? Hideous? Grotesque?” Seneca teased. “Perhaps disfiguring?”

“Hey, excuse me! I was going to say ‘more obvious,’” snapped Shayna.

“I don’t get it.” Seneca frowned.

“I thought it would look out of place, like a wart or a growth, but it doesn’t.”

“That’s what we’ve been trying to tell you. I knew you wouldn’t believe it until you saw it for yourself,” replied Seneca. “It’s really beautiful.”

“Thank you. I have to agree with you. I think I might not want to hide it after all.” She sighed. “I was afraid, and I still am a little. So much is changing, and we have no control over it.”

“True, but it doesn’t have to be a bad thing,” said Seneca. “Maybe if we try embracing some of the change, it won’t be so scary.”

“I like that idea. Plus, something this gorgeous couldn’t be that bad,” said Shayna while tilting her head toward the light.

“I kind of knew you’d feel that way once you got a look at it,” Seneca said. “Come on! The guys are already up in the dining room, gobbling up everything for sure.”

“Seneca, be honest. Would it be weird if I held on to this mirror a bit longer?” Shayna rotated her head as she looked at her image from every conceivable angle.

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